What to Expect From Your Copywriter

Published: 15th March 2017

What You Should and Shouldn’t Expect From Your Copywriter

Like in all relationships, whether personal or professional, it’s important to respect the boundaries that protect that relationship.

We’ve compiled this very straightforward list to help clarify what you should and shouldn’t expect from your creative copywriter. If you’ve engaged a copywriter who doesn’t work this way, you may need to consider going elsewhere.

Interpersonal qualities you should expect from you copywriter:

Good manners, patience and respect

Professionalism, knowledge and skill

The ability to listen, comprehend and follow instructions (and usually ask lots and lots of questions!)

Experience, or a humble acknowledgement that they’re still in the process of obtaining experience

Processes you should expect from your copywriter:

A professional brief, with a mutual understanding that the client should invest time and energy filling out

A meeting (phone, Skype or face-to-face), every copywriter will have their own set-up with this process

A proposal outlining all the specs of the job; the official quote, timelines, terms and conditions, obligations and responsibilities of both client and copywriter

A deposit of about 50% is standard. For smaller sums you may be asked to pay in-full and upfront as there’s a lot of faffing involved with issuing two invoices for peanuts

Two standard industry revisions for each piece of work submitted

If you’ve been happy with the service you’ve received, your copywriter will typically ask for a short testimonial

Things you shouldn’t expect or ask from your copywriter:

Don’t expect them to work without a well thought-out brief

Please don’t assume that they can read your mind, or through “osmosis” understand the internal workings/operations of your industry/niche market. This will need to be explained to them. Sometimes in very simple: a, b, c, d ways

Don’t expect sought after copywriters to drop everything to work on your project – you must allow a decent amount of time for your project. A good rule of thumb for small to medium sized jobs is between 14 – 21 days, depending on how booked they are. Just remember to allow more time than you think. It takes the pressure off you (the client) and your content creator

If you do need a ‘rush job’ expect a loading of at least 25% to be added to your invoice

Your copywriter can’t act as a “silver bullet” for other issues you’re facing in your business. Copywriters can’t resolve intractable problems that may have beset your business, although they may have empathy, they’re only engaged to create content, not fix underlying problems that have little or nothing to do with your brand’s communication

If you’re a copywriter, and you have some other things to add to any of these lists, feel to comment.

More Than Words (and not in a '90s soft rock way)

The By Jingo team believe that how we live and work impacts the world around us. That’s why wherever possible, we reduce, reuse and recycle and regularly volunteer our time, money and energy to noteworthy causes.